Improvement in car-couplings



' ZSheets-Sheet 1.

G. M. THOMPSON.

CAR'COUPLING.

No. 190,931. Patented May 15, 1877.

R R1, Q

X S l l N E:

WITN ESSES INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet Z. G; M. THOMPSON.

GAR-COUPLING.

Paaented May15,1877.

ZIE-l WITN ESSES INVENTOR ATTORN EYS NJETERS, PNOTO-L|THOGRAFHER| WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

GEORGE M. THOMPSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Speeioation forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,931, dated `May 15, 1877; applicationled May 1, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, GEORGE M. THOMPSON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Couplings for Horse- Cars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal vertical section of my coupler, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail'view thereof.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a coupling for horse-cars, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A represents the draw-bar, secured in any suitable manner to the frame of the car, and provided at its front end with a circular draw-head, B, having a wide horizontal mouth leading to the interior chamber.

In the center of the draw-head B is formed a vertical tube, C, containing the couplingpin D', which is pressed downward by means of a spring, a. The top of the tube C is closed by a screw-cap, E, as shown.

In the draw-bar A is placed a horizontal slide, G, which is pressed forward by aspring, b, behind it. This slide has a vertical slot, d, in its forward end, as shown 5 and its forward movement is limited by means of a pin or screw, E, entering a slot or groove in its under side.

Between two ears on the top of the drawbar A is pivoted a lever, H, the front end of which forms a straight arm, f, and a downwardly-bent arm, h. Y

The former arm passes th-rough a slot in the tube O into a 'slot or mortise in the coupling-pin D, while the bent arm h passes downward through a slot in the top of the drawhead B.

The rear end of the lever His inserted in a mortise in a vertical' slide, I, moving in the rear part of the draw-bar, and extending upward for a suitable distance, and having cogs a' formed on one side at its upper end. This part of the slide I is held in a keeper, J, in which is pivoted a lever, L, having its inner end enlarged and cogged to engage with the cogs w.

When the car is uncoupled the pin D is raised, and the slide G moved forward under the lower end of the piu to support the same.

When the coupling-iron is inserted in the head B, the slide G is thereby forced backward, allowing the spring a. to throw the pinD downward to couple the car. At the same time, and with or by the pin, the front end of the lever H is turned downward, so that its prong h will pass into the slot d in the front end of the slide G, thus holding the same back, so as not to interfere with the coupling-iron.

To uncouple the car, it is only necessary to raise the lever L, when, by means ofthe rackslide I, the pin D is raised, and at the same time the slide G released, so as to be thrown forward by its spring b, to expel the couplingiron and take its place under the pin.

Under the front of the draw-head B is hinged a rod, O, which, by another hinged rod, P, is connected with a rack-slide, R, placed in a oase, S, under the oar. This slide is moved out and in as required, and held at vany point desired, by a spring-pawl, S.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the coupling-pin D placed in a tube, O, and actuated by a spring, a, ofthe pivoted lever H, with straight arm or prong f, the rack-slide I, and cogged lever L, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The slide G actuated by the spring b, and provided with the slot d in its front end, in combination with the prong h on the lever H, for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. M. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

H. F. BUswELL, CHARLES H. WALOOTT. 

